About Planning

​Welcome to the Prince William County Planning Office Website

The Records Center will be CLOSED Thursday, February 21 and Friday, February 22 for inventory. Regular hours will resume on Monday, February 25. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions, please call 703-792-7615.

Important Announcement: Change to New Messaging System

Prince William County will start using a more robust alert notification system starting March 1, 2019. If you would like to continue to receive alert notifications from Prince William County government, you must sign up for a new account and register your devices at www.pwcgov.org/pwcan by February 28, 2019. The old eNotification system will not work after February 28, 2019. The new system is much more dynamic and allows you to customize how you prefer to receive information by text, email, voice and/or mobile app. The system will first send a message to what you designate as your primary means of notification. If it doesn't reach you that way, it will try another method. The system also allows you to create a "do not disturb" timeframe, so that you will only receive notifications during the times you designate.

Comprehensive Plan Update: Transportation Survey

​As part of the Mobility chapter of the Comprehensive Plan Updatethe Planning and Transportation Departments have created a survey for input about the transportation network and connectivity in Prince William County. The survey takes only a few minutes to complete and asks about non-motorized (i.e. bicycle, pedestrian) and mass transit modes of transportation, as well as your opinions about vehicle transportation networks and connectivity. You can take the survey here. The survey will be available until March 23rd, 2019.

Community Conversations on the Comprehensive Plan

Citizen involvement in developing the 2040 Comprehensive Plan is critical. You are invited to attend any of the three community conversations, conveniently located across the County. Please share your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions with the Planning Office and other County agencies to help shape the ongoing Comprehensive Plan update and the future of Prince William County. Help us keep Prince William a Community of Choice! Each meeting is an open-house style event and runs from 6 p.m.–8 p.m.

DOWNLOAD OUR NEW MOBILE AND DESKTOP APP (GUIDEBOOK) TO ACCESS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN INFORMATION AND TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS!

The Development Application Processing Schedule (DAPS) has been reformatted and made easier to use. Improvements include consolidating the report to eliminate duplications, sorting cases by status, and other changes. The information is the same but the format is different and easier to use. The DAPS report updates automatically on a nightly basis and is available by clicking on the link to the report that is on the Planning Pending Cases page. If you have any questions please call the Planning Office at 703-792-7615 or email planning@pwcgov.org.

Comprehensive Plan Update

​The Prince William County Comprehensive Plan contains a strategy for responsible, fiscally-sound growth to produce a vibrant, prosperous, stable, "livable" community. On August 3, 2016, the Board of County Supervisors approved the scope of work for a Comprehensive Plan Update. The update has been divided into sections:

Work sessions focusing on different sections and chapters will be held periodically during the update process. Meetings and work sessions will be announced as they are scheduled and will be open to the public. Sign up for the Planning Announcements eNotifications to receive messages about plan updates and events.

Interactive Online Comprehensive Plan

The Planning Office invites you to explore the new online interactive Prince William County Comprehensive Plan at www.pwcgov.org/CompPlan. The new format includes the recently adopted Technical Update to the Comprehensive Plan, the first step in the Comprehensive Plan Update, which included seven chapters and three sector plans. For further information regarding Prince William County's Comprehensive Plan Update status, schedule, and process, visit www.pwcgov.org/PlanUpdate. If you have any questions or comments, please visit www.pwcgov.org/PlanningCommentForm.

What We Do

The Planning Office has three divisions: Long Range Planning, Current Planning, and Zoning Administration. The office is responsible for the development and implementation of the County's Comprehensive Plan, reviewing development applications, supporting land use tools and policies, and lastly acting as staff to the boards, committees, and commissions.

​Curious about what neighboring jurisdictions, including our towns, are doing with development adjacent to Prince William County? When Prince William County receives notices from other jurisdictions, we will post them on our website. Click here to see what's up in our adjacent jurisdictions and towns.

Bristoe Station and Kettle Run Battlefields Preservation Study

​The purpose of this Study is to document both the Bristoe Station and Kettle Run Battlefields and recommend preservation goals and strategies. Prince William County was awarded a grant through the American Battlefield Protection Program, a division of the National Park Service (NPS), to complete this study. Both battlefields are located near the intersection of Bristow Road and the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks. Prince William County contracted Commonwealth Heritage Group to conduct this study.

Mission Statement

To implement the Board's Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan goals, the Planning Office collaborates with the community and its customers to achieve a high quality of life and regional identity, through innovative land use planning.

Planning Events

News & Announcements

Contact Information

May 31, 2017

The Planning Office is located in the Development Services Building at 5 County Complex Court, Suite 210, Prince William, VA 22192-9201.Office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.